Bra-Buying Guide

InStyle.com

Aug 12, 2015 @ 11:46 am

Balconet/Balconette

Pronounced bal-kuh-nay, it has wide-set straps and less coverage than a demi-bra. The effect is uplift and fullness above the breasts, as if they were being served up on a tray or standing high on a balcony.

Jill Wachter

Bralet/Bralette

An unlined wireless bra that is either claspless (and so is pulled on over the head) or clasps in back. Lacking significant support features such as underwires, which offer form and additional support, this style is best for smaller bustlines, for a more relaxed look or for sleepwear.

Jill Wachter

Demi-Cup

A popular underwire bra with cups that are partially cut away to expose the top part of the breast (demi means "half"). With less coverage than a full cup but more than a balconet, it's sexy and flattering, and perfect for low-cut, squared necklines.

Jill Wachter

Bustier/Corset

A fitted, often strapless one-piece bodice that extends from bust to waist or hip, worn to support and sustain a given shape. Such undergarments are usually stiffened with flexible metal or plastic boning and closed in the front or back with hooks and eyes or lacing.

Jill Wachter

Padded Bra

Any bra that contains padding in the cups to add fullness. Graduated padding, which is thicker at the base of the cups, provides natural-looking enhancement. These bras sometimes come with removable crescent-shaped demi-pads ("cookies") to give some extra oomph.

Jill Wachter

Bust Minimizer

A bra that gives the appearance of a reduced cup size by either mashing down the bustline or lifting and redistributing breast tissue to give the appearance of a trimmer figure. A style that does the latter is more flattering.

Jill Wachter

Convertible (backless and halter)

A bra with modifiable and sometimes detachable straps that is designed to be worn under halter, racerback, cross-back, one-shoulder or low-back garments. The halter feature, with straps that go behind the neck, leaves shoulders and upper back bare. Despite being "backless," this style often is low-back rather than no-back, with closures at waist level. For a completely backless look, try a self-adhesive bra.

Jill Wachter

Racerback Bra

A must-have for summer, worn under sleeveless tops and tanks, it features back straps that curve away from the shoulder blades. Many front-close styles are racerback, and most convertible bras can be adjusted that way. Particularly good for women with narrow or sloped shoulders.

Jill Wachter

Strapless/Bandeau Bra

These bras come without shoulder straps and are usually lined with silicone or rubber strips on the inner edges to help keep the bra from slipping down. They can be underwire, seamless, push-up, padded or bandeau style, the last of which is more like a rectangular tube.

Jill Wachter

Sports Bra

Sports bras protect chest ligaments and prevent breast-tissue damage. Compression styles are best for smaller cup sizes, while more structured harness styles, which encapsulate each breast, are best for women who wear larger cups.

Jill Wachter

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1 of 10Jill Wachter

Balconet/Balconette

Pronounced bal-kuh-nay, it has wide-set straps and less coverage than a demi-bra. The effect is uplift and fullness above the breasts, as if they were being served up on a tray or standing high on a balcony.

Advertisement

2 of 10Jill Wachter

Bralet/Bralette

An unlined wireless bra that is either claspless (and so is pulled on over the head) or clasps in back. Lacking significant support features such as underwires, which offer form and additional support, this style is best for smaller bustlines, for a more relaxed look or for sleepwear.

3 of 10Jill Wachter

Demi-Cup

A popular underwire bra with cups that are partially cut away to expose the top part of the breast (demi means "half"). With less coverage than a full cup but more than a balconet, it's sexy and flattering, and perfect for low-cut, squared necklines.

Advertisement

4 of 10Jill Wachter

Bustier/Corset

A fitted, often strapless one-piece bodice that extends from bust to waist or hip, worn to support and sustain a given shape. Such undergarments are usually stiffened with flexible metal or plastic boning and closed in the front or back with hooks and eyes or lacing.

Advertisement

5 of 10Jill Wachter

Padded Bra

Any bra that contains padding in the cups to add fullness. Graduated padding, which is thicker at the base of the cups, provides natural-looking enhancement. These bras sometimes come with removable crescent-shaped demi-pads ("cookies") to give some extra oomph.

Advertisement

6 of 10Jill Wachter

Bust Minimizer

A bra that gives the appearance of a reduced cup size by either mashing down the bustline or lifting and redistributing breast tissue to give the appearance of a trimmer figure. A style that does the latter is more flattering.

Advertisement

7 of 10Jill Wachter

Convertible (backless and halter)

A bra with modifiable and sometimes detachable straps that is designed to be worn under halter, racerback, cross-back, one-shoulder or low-back garments. The halter feature, with straps that go behind the neck, leaves shoulders and upper back bare. Despite being "backless," this style often is low-back rather than no-back, with closures at waist level. For a completely backless look, try a self-adhesive bra.

Advertisement

8 of 10Jill Wachter

Racerback Bra

A must-have for summer, worn under sleeveless tops and tanks, it features back straps that curve away from the shoulder blades. Many front-close styles are racerback, and most convertible bras can be adjusted that way. Particularly good for women with narrow or sloped shoulders.

Advertisement

9 of 10Jill Wachter

Strapless/Bandeau Bra

These bras come without shoulder straps and are usually lined with silicone or rubber strips on the inner edges to help keep the bra from slipping down. They can be underwire, seamless, push-up, padded or bandeau style, the last of which is more like a rectangular tube.

Advertisement

10 of 10Jill Wachter

Sports Bra

Sports bras protect chest ligaments and prevent breast-tissue damage. Compression styles are best for smaller cup sizes, while more structured harness styles, which encapsulate each breast, are best for women who wear larger cups.

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